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Updated: Dec 30, 2025
Porcine Model of Infrarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Published on: November 21, 2019
Ulinastatin Inhibits the Formation and Progression of Experimental Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
Gang Li1, Hua Zhou1, Yuxiang He1
1Department of Vascular Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China.
Aims:
Aortic mural inflammatory damage takes a vital part in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Recently, ulinastatin (UTI) has attracted attention for its anti-inflammatory function. Our study aimed to evaluate potential influences of UTI on experimental AAA.
Methods:
A mouse model of AAA was induced by infusion of porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) into the abdominal aorta. Mice were treated with UTI (50,000 U/kg/day i.p.) beginning either immediately or on the 4th day after PPE infusion, with treatment being continued until the 14th day. UTI effects were assessed by aortic diameter measurements and aortic histopathological analysis.
Results:
Significant and time-dependent aortic diameter enlargement persisted in the control mice from day 0. In the UTI group, aortic diameter increased, and depletion of aortic mural smooth muscle cells and elastin was significantly -attenuated. Simultaneously, mural CD68+ macrophages, CD8+ T-cell and B220+ B-cell density, as well as neoangiogenesis were suppressed by UTI. In addition, delayed UTI treatment could still effectively limit aneurysm expansion.
Conclusions:
UTI treatment limits the formation and growth of experimental AAA, and UTI may be a potential treatment for early AAA disease.
